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WHO: Joyride Studios
WHAT: A 1/18th scale, die-cast Ecto-1, etc.
WHEN: Second quarter 2004
WHERE: Major retailers and finer speciality shops.

1/18th scale Ecto-1 rolls out... slowly

April 13th, 2004 | credit Dan Elektro and Paul Nomad

While its release has been rather quiet, the 1/18th scale die-cast Ecto-1 is actually about to be released this June. And, thanks to Dan Elektro (of the Bay Area Ghostbusters), it turns out it's not actually 1/18th as we'd thought all along, but more like 1/21st scale. The car is a big car in real life and was made slightly smaller than 1/18th scale so as not to be too big as a die-cast car. Dan also included a lot of nice pictures of his car. I've put all of Dan's pictures, as well as his comments on the car, in the Joyride section.
Paul Nomad at ActionFigure.com also sent me thier review of the car, complete with even more pictures. You can check that out here.
Thanks to Paul for his link, which has a link where you can buy the car online, and extra thanks to Dan, who has kept me in the loop with his early look at the car, and who sent a buying link to Diecastexpress.com, which is the offical retailer for Joyride, ERTL, etc.

From Dan Elektro
"Just got it about an hour ago. No retail box but the unit itself is complete. A few accessories have to be put on by the owner. Those four pieces that stick up come sealed to the back cardboard, along with Slimer. The small writing that can be seen over the rear wheel appears only on the left side; it says

KEEP CLEAR
ECTOPLASMIC RESIDUE
OVERFLOW DRAIN
DO NOT INHALE VAPORS

Driver door, passenger door, hood, and rear door all open. There is not a tray for proton packs in the rear bay; the rear door won't open far enough to accomodate that anyway. Dunno if you can remove the whip antennas; I do not want to. Steering wheel turns the front axle. It's attached to the base with screws which you can remove; the car rolls."

click to see larger picture;

Ecto-1 die-cast box revealed.

March 28th, 2004 | credit Ryan LeClair

PC reader and news patron extraordinaire, Ryan LeClair, sent me a heads up while I was away about an ebay auction for the Ecto-1 1/18th scale die-cast which showed a nice shot of the car and more interestingly, the package. Have a gander above. Thanks to vs-diecast.com for borrowing their image - I had a quick look at their auctions and if you can't meet your die-cast needs locally, you might consider checking them out.

Let's run some red lights...

February 17th, 2004 | credit River of Slime

Previously we'd only seen a concept sketch from the Joyride catalog, but now pictures have been post on the HobbyTalk message boards, showing off the production models of the "Hot Rods" stlye Ecto-1, along with other famous movie and TV cars, such as the General Lee, Mach 5, and Bandit's Trans-Am from Smokey and the Bandit.

1/18th scale pics starting to circulate.

February 13th, 2004 | credit Dan Elektro

Everybody's favorite action figure, Dan Elektro - of the Bay Area Ghostbusters (not to be confused with the Bay City Rollers) - forwarded me a scan of the 1/18th scale, die-cast Ecto-1 (click here for a bigger version of the image.) The car looks sweet and the Slimer looks slimey (and wired on caffine), so what more can you ask for?

Joyride Die-cast Ecto-1 still coming.

February 2nd, 2004 | credit Guyver

Boy, why couldn't all this have happened four years ago when I had all the time in the world? Being a grown-up bites some times. Guyver got his hands on the Joyride catalog recently, which features a listing for the 1/18th scale die-cast Ecto-1 due to come out shortly - and as an extra surprise, the catalog features a series of hot-rodding, stylized cars, including cars from The Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky and Hutch, and Ghostbusters. The picture is just a concept illustration, but it certainly makes the eyes pop. Each car is listed as being 8 inches long.



1/18th scale Ecto-1 prototype revealed.

Sept. 25th, 2003

This month's Previews magazine has solicited orders for a 1/18th scale, die-cast Ecto-1. While there is no manufacturer information, one assumes that this is the upcoming car offered by Joyride Studios. As a bonus, the catalog has some pictures labeled as being prototype pictures, which includes a Slimer figure!
What? With a closer look, you can see scrolling, side light bars. In fact, judging by the roof rack equipment, it looks a lot like the Ecto-1a. So, for now, I'm not sure what to make of the pictures. The listing does specifically say "ecto-1", but the mistake has been made before. The car is soliciting for an April 2004 ship date and has a suggested retail price of $40US.

1/18th scale die-cast Ecto-1 officially announced.


Sept. 11th, 2003 | credit River of Slime

While we've known about it for awhile, through various rumblings on collector message boards and through listings at online dealers, the 1/18th scale Ecto-1 has never been officially announced. Well, now it has. The one surprise is that the car (bigger than all previous die-cast Ectos and not a model kit) isn't being handled by RC2 subsidiary ERTL, as was originally thought, but by Joyride Studios. Joyride Studio is notable for their line of keen video game related figures, including one of GB community elder Dan Elektro. Not much news other than that, but stick around, there's sure to be more. Currently the license is believed to be of the Ecto-1, not the Ecto-1a, as Johnny Lightning holds the license for the 1A.

ERTL to release 1/18 scale Ecto-1.


March 8th, 2003 / credit | DenElektro and the message board crew.

While details are slim, Collectors Net USA has posted information stating that ERTL, through their American Muscle line, will be producing a 1/18 scale Ecto-1. The die-cast, preassembled car (this is not a model kit) will be available this December apparently. I'm trying to find out more information and will let you know as soon as I know more

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